Tuesday, April 20, 2010

David Reutimann - Talladega Sprint Cup Series Preview

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Race fans attending the Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend might yell out “Roll Tide!” as David Reutimann, driver of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine, takes to the racetrack. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver’s No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine will sport the 2009 National Champions Alabama Crimson Tide logo on the hood and a crimson paint scheme to celebrate the University of Alabama’s victory over Texas in the college football BCS Championship game.

QUOTES

REUTIMANN ON UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PAINT SCHEME: “I grew up in Florida, so I am pretty sure there are going to be some people I know that aren’t going to be real happy to see me in an Alabama Crimson Tide car, but I think it’s a pretty cool deal. I’m sure I’ll become a pretty popular driver this week—a lot of people who may not normally root for me will probably be cheering me on because of this paint scheme.

“Aaron’s does a great job with things like this. They have a Color Your Way to Talladega Aaron’s car for the Nationwide race with Trevor Bayne this weekend, a 55th Anniversary car that Michael (Waltrip) is driving and I’m driving an Alabama National Championship car this weekend. Aaron’s is always looking for new ideas and creative ways to have fun and Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega is a lot of fun that is for sure.”

“Obviously, with Alabama winning the National Championship and Aaron’s as a partner this was a natural fit and a great opportunity to celebrate the accomplishment. As a matter of fact, last weekend the car was in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) when the Crimson Tide played their annual spring football game in front of a sold out crowd of more than 92,000, and when they brought the car out and fired it up it sounded as though Bama had won the national title again. The fans just couldn’t believe it and I think its going to be that same sort of reaction come this weekend when the Crimson Tide car, through the Aaron’s associated sponsorship gets out on to the racetrack. This has been a wonderful run for the Tide and this is a great way to cross promote to all the NASCAR fans that live in Alabama and those who will be coming to visit.”

ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AARON’S AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: “The University of Alabama is tickled to have a nice relationship with the folks from Aaron’s and for Aaron’s to be so generous to allow the Crimson Tide colors and the National Championship logo on the car this weekend. That just shows you what kind of people they are. They are great folks who appreciate sports and appreciate the Alabama Crimson Tide.

ROBIN LOUDERMILK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF AARON’S, INC.

“Aaron’s couldn’t be more proud that two of its partner universities were represented in this year’s national championship game. While Alabama clinched the title, Texas put up a tough fight making the game one of the most outstanding in BCS history. We are honored and excited to take Alabama’s triumph a step further with the opportunity to put this commemorative racecar in victory lane at our race this weekend in Talladega.”

LARRY MCREYNOLDS, TV HOST/FORMER CREW CHIEF
“Being from Alabama, and I’m careful with this statement, there is really only probably two big or major things when it comes to sports in Alabama, because there is no professional teams there. There’s no Major League Baseball team, no NFL team, no NBA team; so at the end of the day honestly its Alabama and Auburn football and racing at Talladega.

“When I cut myself shaving I promise you it’s Crimson red … it’s not regular blood red. Even though I’ve been gone from Alabama for 30 years I still live and die Alabama Crimson Tide football. Outside of racing it’s probably my next passion and my next love as far as sports.

“So I guess with knowing that’s the two biggest things in the state of Alabama when it comes to sports and then by virtue of Aaron’s and David Reutimann running the paint scheme recognizing the Crimson Tide’s National Championship from last year—to marry those two things together in one, which is kind of hard to do. How do you marry racing and college football together. To be able to do that with the Alabama paint scheme, I promise you—you have Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he hits the track to qualify or when he takes the lead on Sunday they are going to be ripping the grandstands apart as they do every week. But I’d be willing to bet if that No. 00 when he goes to qualify on Saturday or if he happens to take the lead—which is a good possibility considering how they ran at Daytona– I think you’ll probably see close to the same reaction as you’d get with Dale Jr.“

ON HAVING A FLORIDA NATIVE DRIVE AN ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE PAINT SCHEME: “I’ve already given (David Reutimann) a little bit of a hard time. It just goes to show me that there is hope. There is hope for people from Florida. That they really do truly indeed get it. I talked to David on Trackside Live a couple weeks ago about that."

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST

• The Aaron’s/Alabama National Championship program kicked off at the University of Alabama A-Day game on April 17 at Bryant-Denny Stadium where the racecar was unveiled and displayed prior to the football game.

• Reutimann has six career starts at Talladega Superspeedway and has led a total of eight laps. Reutimann’s best start is fifth (2007-2) and finish is 20th (2008-1). He led six laps in his last appearance at Talladega. Reutimann retired due to engine troubles in two races (2007-1 and 2008-2) and a crash in one (2007-2).

• Aaron’s, sponsor of the No. 00, will give away an autographed hat to a lucky race fan through Facebook and Twitter following any top-10 finish. Follow Aarons on Twitter (@AaronsSports) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/AaronsSports)